Tweets that teach: Social media engages Lexington students

Friday

Aug 30, 2013 at 12:01 AMAug 30, 2013 at 6:23 PM

Twitter, blogs, wikis- the list of new digital technology is endless and can sometimes be overwhelming. See how teachers and administrators are using social media and technology in the classroom to help shape students into twenty-first century citizens.

Marc Filippino/Staff Writer

In the weeks approaching the 2013 State of the Union Address, Diamond Middle School teacher Howard Wolke brainstormed unique ways for his students to receive Barack Obama’s words.

He wanted more than for them to hear the president speak; he wanted students to fully understand what Obama was trying to convey, and Wolke hoped he could answer any questions students might have as it happened.

With the Twitter handle @mrwolke and the hashtag #dmswolke - standing for Diamond Middle School, Wolke - the eighth grade social studies teacher sent out 40 live-tweets for his students, responding to questions they had in real time. For students without Twitter, Wolke streamed the Twitter feed on his website.

Wolke, who doubles as Diamond’s instructional technology specialist, is focused on developing the pieces for Lexington Public Schools to move to a more digital environment. The goal is to get students learning through digital tools such as social networks like Twitter as well as other mediums like blogs and wikis.

The idea is not only to help students digest curriculum in a different way, but also to help them become what faculty and administrators are calling "twenty-first century citizens."

"We’re finding out in the middle schools and high school that kids are communicating with these technological tools more," said Tom Plati, the director of educational technology and assessment for Lexington Public Schools. "Sometimes there are the quiet ones in class, but when teachers reach out to them over the Internet we are getting better responses. We’re getting more reflective responses."

Plati said social media gives students more access to teachers outside of the classroom. A student can tweet over a question the morning before a test, or collaborate with a teacher on a question they’re stuck on while doing homework.

"It’s a good way for teachers to find out which students need more intervention or who has more questions," said Clarke Middle School Principal Anna Monaco. "And if enough students have the same question, a teacher can come in the next day and spend extra time explaining it so they can understand more thoroughly."

The idea of a constantly accessible teacher is now a reality, and Monaco said it’s up to the teacher to create their own hours outside the classroom.

"That’s our society now - for better or for worse. We’re all available 24/7," she said. "Some adapt and welcome that. Other teachers will set some boundaries. I don’t expect teachers to respond 24/7. We all need balance, but it’s another way to collaborate with students and parents."

A push for collaboration

Many teachers started becoming more involved with social media after seeing their colleagues successfully reach students. As an instructional technology specialist, Wolke helps students and faculty alike adjust to the onslaught of digital services that are constantly released or updated.

"The speed of technology is difficult for a lot of people," said Wolke. "When people are not familiar with something they are less likely to jump in. We have amazing teachers in our districts with great experiences with technology, so it helps other see how it can help intensify their message to their students."

This idea of collaboration is the basis of contemporary technology, said Wolke. Gone are the days of working in solitude, and Lexington’s curriculum is structured so students can work together in a digital atmosphere.

One of those ideas is working more with wikis - software that allows users to add, delete, edit and share information. In many classrooms, such as Wolke’s, students will be required to pick a topic and write a related wiki. Later in the quarter they will add information to their classmates’ wikis.

"In college and beyond they don’t do things individually anymore. They will be working in a group of people," said Wolke "It’s not very solitary anymore and you have those connections."

Another education model, the flipped classroom, asks students to read or watch a video usually from an online source the night before a classroom discussion to give students sufficient time to digest and think about a topic, said Plati. In this method, during the actual lesson a teacher does not allot time during a lesson to introduce and explain a topic; instead the class immediately breaks the topic down.

Teaching responsibility, engagement

In an effort to teach students about plagiarism, ninth grade students are taught about properly crediting Internet sources to avoid citing unfounded information on the Internet.

"It’s about responsible online citizenship," Plati said.

As good citizens, teachers are hoping to get students more involved in the inner workings of politics through social media. In the future, Wolke hopes to have students conduct an interactive question and answer session with a congressman through either Twitter, Skype or back-channeling.

Along with improving his Twitter feed for next year’s State of the Union Address, Wolke is thinking about the upcoming race for the 5th Middlesex Congressional District, which includes Lexington. Wolke likes to experiment with new digital methods and hopes this idea of experimentation is passed down to his students.

"I’m always trying something new. I say that to the kids. They appreciate it and as long as they recognize it’s OK to fail as long as you can own up to it and make things better in the future," Wolke said.